The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV, in a joint investigation, exposed a cover-up that reaches all the way into the governor’s office.

Documents uncovered by the state’s largest media outlets show that Gov. Deal’s top staffers “threatened and pressured” their hand-picked ethics chief to “make the complaints” against the governor “go away.”

The previously secret document, written in the summer of 2012, undermines the governor’s claim that the investigation had nothing to do with him and that his office had no involvement in his campaign finance coverup that cost Georgia taxpayers more than $3 million.

Until today, Gov. Deal has maintained that the $3 million ethics verdict and settlements had nothing to do with his office.

Evidence now shows that this claim is false.

The allegations against Gov. Deal are serious.

This story is rapidly unfolding. We will monitor and keep you informed as the facts emerge.